RACING on Saturday took place at Parham in West Sussex where the Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt held their meeting.

Owing to the firm ground runners were not numerous with just 19 coming under starters orders. There was one walkover in the Men's Open. Times, as one would expect, were fast with the Ladies Race run at six minutes 15 seconds compared to six minutes 58 seconds at the previous meeting.

Chris Gordon took the Maiden on Tate’s Avenue owned by Simon Tindall, and trained by Chris’s wife Jenny. After decanting the jockey just after leaving the paddock, Tate’s Avenue was led to the start before Gordon remounted.

He jumped the first fence as though it was Beechers Brook but then settle down to win in a very fast time. The horse now goes for the Grants Cherry Brandy race at Folkestone in May and on this performance must have a great chance.

Not every horse which ran appreciated the firm ground. One in particular was Altareek in the Confined. Sent off at 3-1 on favourite, he trailed in a distant third.

The Members Race was won by Aslapoftheeuro who had seemed to lose his form since winning at the first Charing meeting in February because of a hock injury, and now looks as though he could well notch up further victories.

Gill Gladders saddled her first winner of the season with Ballystone taking the Confined under a good ride from her daughter, Sarah Ashby, beating the favourite into third place.

CHIDDINGFOLD, LECONFIELD AND COWDRAY

Hunt Members: 1 Aslapoftheeuro (P York) 1-3 fav, 2 Diamond Road (M Sheridan) 8-1. Only 2 finished. 4 ran. Winning owner: J Heaney. Time: 6min 34sec. Distance: 12 lengths. No tote.

Confined: 1 Ballystone (Mrs S Ashby) 6-1, 2 Chief Chippie (L Kilgarriff) 5-1, 3 Altareek (C Gordon) 4-11 fav. 3 ran. Winning owner: Hammerstream Farm Partnership. Time: 6min 29sec. Distance: 15 lengths and distance.

Restricted: 1 Warren Hill (D Turner) 5-4, 2 Court Award (C Gordon) 8-11 fav, 3 Phar Afield (S Spice) 6-1. 3 ran. Winning owner: J Young. Time: 6min 30sec. Distance: 1 length and distance.

Ladies Open: 1 Lord Euro (Miss H Grissell) 4-7 fav, 2 D McCarthy (Mrs S Ashby) 11-8. 2 ran. Winning owner: Mrs J Merriam. Time: 6min 15sec. Distance: 15 lengths.

Mens Open: 1 Cape Stormer (M Gorman) walked over. Winning owner: M Gorman.

Open Maiden: 1 Tates Avenue (C Gordon) 5-4 fav, 2 Lady L’Orelei (P York) 15-8, 3 Beacon White (P Hall) 10-1. 6 ran. Winning owner: S Tindall. Time: 6min 20sec. Distance: 7 lengths and distance.

THE West Street Tickham held the second of their two meetings, this time at Aldington. Overnight rain provided some good ground and there were good fields resulting in some very exciting finishes.

As has so often been the case this year, early morning rain and a cold wind put off a number of spectators, but for those who braved the elements it turned out to be a great day’s racing.

Hercules Morse, trained by Di Grissell, gave riser Phillip Hall a deserved win in the Open Maiden having refused at the last fence at Bexhill leaving Hall to jump it on his own. This was a first success for owner Major Tom Taverner.

Trainer Sarah Hickman saddles Asthefellowsaid to take the Confined for owner Kate Digweed whose husband George, the reigning World Clay Shooting Champion, was at the meeting to see his wife collect the winner’s cup.

East Anglican raider, Mill Lad took the Restricted under a forceful ride from Matt Jackson who was having only his 13th race ride but this was his first success having only won a walkover previously.

The Ladies was a third successive win for Carryonharry owned by Mrs Heather Silk and Richard Purkins and trained by Heather’s daughter, Emma Leopard. While the future plans are uncertain, it is thought that the horse will next compete in the Gerrard Ladies final at Huntingdon on May 16, a race with a first prize of £5,000. In the race, local jockey Caroline Taylor took a heavy fall from Minimo and was taken to the William Harvey Hospital for observation.

There are very few meetings that owner Simon Tindall does not have a winner, and Fiery Ring obliged in the Men's Open with Chris Gordon.

The last race of the day finished in great style with Helen Williams storming home to win by a neck on the 5-1 outsider Nicodemus, beating the 2-1 favourite. Some three fences out Nicodemus appeared to have no chance but he then sprouted wings to take his third successive win.

There will be no racing in the South East at the weekend but the final meeting of the season takes place at Peper Harow the following Saturday with the first of six races starting at 2pm.

WEST STREET TICKHAM

Open Maiden: 1 Hercules Morse (P Hall) 4-5 fav, 2 Milanista (P York) 7-4, 3 Innis Eile (Miss H Grissell) 16-1. 8 ran. Winning owner: Major T Tavenor. Time: 7min 01sec. Distance 1.5 lengths and 15 lengths. No tote.

Confined: 1 Asthefelowsaid (A Merriam) 4-5 fav, 2 Sliabh Foy (Miss H Grissell) 5-2, 3 Steve The Fish (Miss A Sansom) 12-1. 7 ran. Winning owner: Mrs K Digweed. Time: 6min 57sec. Distance: 3 lengths and 2 lengths.

Restricted: 1 Mill Lord (M Jackson) 4-1, 2 Napolito (C gordon) 4-7 fav, 3 Pandeli (Miss J Batho) 10-1, 5 ran. Winning owners: C Lawson and S Laurie. Time: 7min 08sec. Distance: 3/4 length and distance.

Ladies Open: 1 Carryonharry (Miss C Hayden) 1-2 fav, 2 Stylish Dave (Ms L Stock) 9-4, 3 Physical Graffiti (Mrs J Gordon) 10-1. 5 ran. Winning owners: Mrs H Silk and R Purkis. Time: 6min 49sec. Distance: 15 lengths and 25 lengths.

Mens Open: 1 Fiery Ring (C Gordon) 13-8, 2 Little Farmer (P Hall) 10-1, 3 Cape Stormer (M Gorman) 4-7 fav. 5 ran. Winning owner: S Tindall. Time: 6min 51sec. Distance: 12 lengths and 20 lengths.

Club Members Novice Riders: 1 Nicodemus (Miss H Williams) 5-1, 2 Indoux (Miss C Hayden) 2-1 fav, 3 Glory Trail (Miss R Grissell) 8-1. 7 ran. Winning owner: Miss H Williams. Time: 6min 53sec. Distance: Neck and 1/2 length.